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Mambo Cafe was just as much fun as sounded, and my slasa moves weren´t too bad. It was a massive club, with tables and chair where people drank while we waited for the salsa band. It was all very civilised. The band started and a few couples took to the floor and I could not stop staring, their smooth moves and elegance were amazing. I can´t say the same for when we go tonto the floor and proved how white and western we were. We danced as long as our legs would carry us, which was only till 1:30, knowing that we had to be up for naother day of Spanish lessons. We were exhausted the next day as we struggled through nouns and their endings, but it was definitely worth it.
The following day after lessons we had a school trip to Dzibilchaltun, which is as hard to pronouce as it looks. It is one of the smaller Mayan sites, with only one small Mayan pyramid, but set in the lush jungle it was still a sight to be seen. There was also a museum detailing Mayan history, and our teacher took us through some typical Mayan huts. Unfortunately as much as our Spanish has improved, our vocabularly is still rpetty limited and we often understood all the basics and missed the interesting bits, i.e. here the family would eat ... using ... to cook with. The best has to be swimming in a small lake, which although filled with fishes and waht not, was very refreshing in the humid mid-day heat.
That evening after my daily siesta - Nicola still can´t get over how much I can sleep - we visted a an square outside a churc, Santa Lucia, where for the past 2000 thursdays perfomances are made. There was a big band, poerty, traditional dancing, a guitar trio and singer. Once again it felt all very civilised, and was filled with both Mexicans and their families, and white tourists. I love how family orientated the Mexicans are, and it was wonderful to see these families out enjoying the cooler evening and music. We felt very cultured, whether we are is a matter of opinion.
Today was day 5 of our lessons, and we are half way through with so much more to do. I can´t believe how much we do understand, but I am very mcuh aware that I may be abel to listen and pick up 50% of a conversation, I probably will not be able to respond particularly coherently, or only in broken simple Spanish. Our host´s nieces and nephews came round, and although the young boys were badly behaved and typical young boys, the older niece was lovely and really enjoyed talking to us. We somehow managed to discuss the current economic situation in Mexico, the divide between rich and poor, and the presidents involvement in this, as well as what England was like. I am going to really miss beign surrounded by a family and hearing Sanish spoken all day, I hope I will be able to carry on my studies on the long bus journeys that await me and have willing and patient natives to speak to.
Our host and her daughter have left for the weekend for Campeche, as Annabelle is presenting a programme there, and we are enjoyign the luxury of an empty house. It seems a great priviledge as a traveller to ahve a kitchen to prepare snacks etc in, and have all our main meal prepared so deliciously. I´m definitely going to miss it and the onsuite bathroom when we continue our travels.
Tonight we are going into town to see some more outdoor performances, but this time it is traditional dance, a form of ballet local to the Yucatan. We are off to some more Mayan ruins, but much larger ones, over the weekend.
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Alexandra Lewis
non-member comment
Wow, wow and wow
What a fabulous time you seem to be having. I am glad about the place where you are staying. Marie Elena sounds lovely and it is really nice for you to be staying somewhere like that and also have the chance to eat proper Spanish food. The street food sounds awful. And to see Salsa as "she is supposed to be" must be quite an experience - good fun. And to be there for the fun in the streets, not put on for tourists, sounds just great. I look forward to seeing your new hairstyle. How about a photo? Anyway, muchos amor querida de tu madre.